"Nursing team -fantastic, Food needs..."

My mother (82 years old) recently spent 4 weeks on Ward 13, the Nursing Sister's and their team treated my mother with the upmost respect, involved her in her care and teated her with privacy and dignity. The Charge Nurse goes the extra mile in taking the time to get to know his patients and their families. He built up a fabulous relationship with my mother and he managed, even when she was desperatly poorly, to bring a smile to her face, she utlimately trusted him and took into account all the guidance and advice he took the time to pass to her, he is without doubt a dedicated professional who is a credit to Airedale Hospital.

The palliative care team introduced themselves from the day mum was admitted and my sister (mum's main carer) and myself found their regular updates and support invaluable.

What could be improved

The food

as with most old people mum does not have a massive appetite and this was supressed further during her illness. We ticked 'small' portion size each day but more oftan than not mum was given a large plate full of food which resulted in her not eating much. Meals appearded to be made from cheap, processed ingrediants, which if I had purchased from a supermarket or canteen would have been returned. Not very good when ill patients need nourishment and encouragement to eat, you cannot make someone eat a meal that does not look apetising. Meat was oftan full of grissle and tough, vegetables were obviously frozen and undercooked.

take home medication

Although the discharge was well prepared the take home medication was still not available the same time as the actual discharge, this had to be collected later during the day.